30 reasons to set sail in 2017

From polar expeditions to luxe European sojourns, Louise Goldsbury nominates her pick of the great cruises for the year ahead.

Mar 22, 2017 1:00pm

From polar expeditions to luxe European sojourns, Louise Goldsbury nominates her pick of the great cruises for the year ahead.

1 / 0

WINE ON WATER
Scott McWilliam, of McWilliam's Wines, and Peter Barry, of Jim Barry Wines in the Clare Valley, will travel aboard two of APT's Wine Series European river cruises this year. They'll have a personal stash of their own wines on board for tastings, and will host winematched dinners, lead excursions to wineries and discuss European wine heritage and traditions. There's a train trip aboard the Majestic Imperator between Austria and Germany, a banquet at the 14th-century Namedy Castle near Koblenz, and a cocktail party and concert at Vienna's City Palace featuring the Mozart Boys' Choir.

The 14-night "Magnificent Europe" Wine Series on AmaVerde departs Amsterdam on 23 July and 11 November 2017. aptouring.com.au

2 / 0

POLAR PHOTOGRAPHY
Aurora Expeditions has devised a new Antarctic adventure for amateur photographers, from iPhone snappers to DSLR devotees. This early-season voyage features a masterclass and tutorials by photographer Chris Bray, who will also conduct private sessions on composition, camera settings, post-production and video editing. Excursions are timed to capture the best light, from a dawn outing on the penguin-packed beaches of South Georgia to extended Zodiac cruises among icebergs and glaciers, spotting leopard seals and seabirds.

ARABIAN NIGHTS
Egypt, Jordan and Oman are the focus of "Route of the Frankincense". During overnight docks in Safaga and Aqaba, travellers have time to explore the Valley of the Kings and Petra, the Jordanian city carved into pink rock more than 2,000 years ago. There's a Bedouin performance under the desert stars at atmospheric Wadi Rum; and in Salalah, Oman, see the ruins of Sumahram Old City and the World Heritage site of Al Baleed Archaeological Park, the centre of the frankincense trade. Solo sailors will appreciate Azamara's rates for singles: 125 per cent of the double occupancy fare on its refurbished ship.

The 17-night "Route of the Frankincense" on Azamara Journey departs Athens on 28 October 2017. azamaraclubcruises.com

4 / 0

MOVIES ON DECK
Movies under the stars paired with food "that brings the scenes on the screen to life" is the aim of Celebrity Cruises' "A Taste of Film" experience, now available on the top deck of the newly refurbished Celebrity Solstice. Other enhancements include new cabanas and a sushi restaurant. Try all its restaurants - and the Martini bar - on a round-trip sailing from Sydney to the Bay of Islands, Auckland, Akaroa, Dunedin, Tauranga and the mesmerising Milford, Dusky and Doubtful sounds.

The 12-night "New Zealand Cruise" on Celebrity Solstice departs Sydney on 30 October and 9 December 2017, and 22 January 2018. celebritycruises.com.au

5 / 0

TASMANIAN WORLD HERITAGE
Keep it local on this southern Tasmanian coastal cruise, which explores territory otherwise accessible only via a seven-day hike or by light aircraft. Spend two days exploring the World Heritage wilderness area at Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour. Hike to Wineglass Bay, or try a segment of the South Coast Track. Visit Maria Island and Port Arthur. Pop in to family-run Grandvewe Cheeses to taste artisanal produce, and enjoy freshly shucked oysters and wine tasting on Bruny Island. Local produce and wines are served on Coral Expeditions I, a boutique twin-hulled catamaran designed for 50 guests with an all-Australian crew.

The seven-night "Pristine Tasmania" on Coral Expeditions I departs Hobart regularly from November 2017 to February 2018. coralexpeditions.com.au

Photo: Alistair Scott/Alamy Stock Photo

6 / 0

MOZART AND MICHELIN
Crystal Cruises has entered river cruising with a bang, launching one of the most luxurious vessels on the Danube. On each voyage aboard the Crystal Mozart, launched last year, guests are treated to a complimentary meal at a choice of Michelin-starred restaurants during shore visits (more reservations are available for a fee). In Vienna, dining options include restaurants Le Ciel, Konstantin Filippou, Tian and Edvard; in Budapest, choose from Winekitchen, Tanti, Costes, and Costes Downtown.

The nine-night "Round-trip Vienna" on Crystal Mozart has multiple departures from April to December 2017. crystalcruises.com

Photo: Ian Schemper

7 / 0

NORTHWEST PASSAGE
Global warming has made it possible to cruise the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic, an icy sea route that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Last year Crystal Serenity made history as the largest ship to successfully navigate the route and she returns this season. Aside from the promise of polar bears, amazing landscapes and the Northern Lights, travellers learn about the cultures and people of the Arctic.

ASTRONAUTS AFLOAT
To celebrate the United Nations' World Space Week, Cunard will host a cosmic trans-Atlantic crossing from New York to Southampton featuring lectures from a leading astronomer, an astronaut and former shuttle pilot, a NASA historian, and the commercial director of Virgin Galactic. This one-off themed voyage will be aboard the grand ocean liner Queen Mary 2, which was extensively refurbished last year and has its own planetarium.

The seven-night "Eastbound Trans-Atlantic Crossing and World Space Week" on Queen Mary 2 departs New York on 6 October 2017. cunardline.com.au

9 / 0

VIETNAM VIA WATERSLIDE
Billed as Asia's first luxury ship, the 3,352-passenger Genting Dream has submersibles, six waterslides, a zip-line and a 100-seat reflexology lounge. Among the 35 eateries and bars are a cabaret restaurant with live entertainment, an open-air nightclub with a shallow-pool dancefloor, and karaoke rooms. In a coup for Dream Cruises, Australian chef and restaurateur Mark Best has opened his first shipboard restaurant, named Bistro, on board. Whisky lovers will congregate at Johnnie Walker House, which promises whisky and food pairings and a tasting bar stocked with rare single malts. The ship's Vietnam itinerary takes in Da Nang and Halong Bay.

The five-night "Vietnam Cruise" on Genting Dream has regular departures from Hong Kong in 2017. dreamcruiseline.com

10 / 0

AWESOME ALASKA
Holland America Line has operated in Alaska for 70 years and has crafted land-based experiences in tandem with its cruises, so travellers see more than icebergs and glaciers. A round-trip package from Seattle to the Yukon Territory and Denali National Park mixes wilderness retreats, gold-rush towns, rail journeys and short flights. The Inside Passage cruise ticks all the boxes for breathtaking scenery, and there's the chance to approach Mendenhall Glacier by helicopter, or set out from Juneau to trek across ice or go dog sledding.

The 10-night "Seattle, Yukon and Denali" on Nieuw Amsterdam departs Seattle from May to September 2017. hollandamerica.com.au

Photo: Michel Verdure

11 / 0

BATHERS’ BREAKAWAY
Sydney chef and restaurateur Serge Dansereau will take a break from The Bathers' Pavilion in August to host a gastronomic tour in Europe. Guests start their trip with a 12-night cruise on Silversea's new Silver Muse, from Venice to Monte Carlo via Croatia and Montenegro, then join Dansereau on land for a culinary tour of France. Among the private events are lunch at Paul Bocuse's three-star L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges, near Lyon, and a Champagne production tour at Louis Roederer. Limited to 26 people, the package includes luxury hotel stays and return airfares from Australia.

The 26-night "Culinary Escape with Serge Dansereau" on Silver Muse departs select Australian capitals on 5 August 2017. latitude33.travel

12 / 0

RAINFOREST ADVENTURES
Lindblad Expeditions has built a new ship and fitted it with equipment designed to film and listen to marine mammals underwater. During its first season this year, National Geographic Quest will transit the Panama Canal and dive deep into Costa Rica, with a staff member for every 12 guests, including five naturalists. Hike into rainforest to spot sloths, toucans and monkeys. Search for wildlife in Zodiacs, kayak through mangroves and swim in a waterfall pool. The ship has 50 cabins, including 12 that can be reconfigured for families.

The seven-night "Costa Rica and the Panama Canal" on National Geographic Quest departs Panama City weekly during December 2017 and January 2018. au.expeditions.com

13 / 0

AFRICA TO ASIA
Spend Christmas and New Year's Eve cruising the Indian Ocean on a paradisiacal itinerary by Oceania Cruises. Animal lovers have the chance to spot white rhinos at a game reserve in South Africa and see black lemurs at a sanctuary near Madagascar's Nosy Be. Plant lovers can stroll Cape Town's Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden and visit a spice plantation in the rainforests of the Seychelles. Otherstops on this month-long escape include the Maldives, Phuket, Colombo and Zanzibar.

The 29-night "Indian Ocean Jubilee" on Nautica departs Cape Town on 21 December 2017. oceaniacruises.com

Photo: Mike Louagie

14 / 0

CHINESE MEKONG
On a four-country river expedition last year, Pandaw became the first Western operator to reach China via the Upper Mekong River, through Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. This fascinating itinerary has opened up Yunnan province to high-end tourism. It includes overnight stops in Vientiane and Luang Prabang in Laos, Chiang Saen in northern Thailand and Jinghong in Yunnan, and can be combined with a Pandaw cruise from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap to navigate the entire length of the fabled river.

The 14-night "The Mekong: From Laos to China" on Champa Pandaw departs Vientiane from September to November 2017. pandaw.com

15 / 0

VOLCANIC VOYAGE
Care to explore the Aeolian Islands off Sicily aboard a 10-passenger wooden gulet? Peter Sommer Travels has a new itinerary hosted by historian and archaeologist Dr Michael Metcalfe. Enjoy the food and wines of Salina, swim in the Mediterranean off Lipari, walk through Bronze-age villages and archaeological sites on Panarea, and hike to the smoking crater of Stromboli.

MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY
Follow the ill-fated voyage of the HMS Bounty through the South Pacific, passing Nomuka Island, visited by the crew the day before the mutiny against Captain William Bligh, and Tofua Island, where Bligh and his loyalists landed after being cast adrift. An historian recounts the story of this maritime saga along the way. Stops include Norfolk Island, Nuku'alofa and Vava'u in Tonga, and Suva in Fiji, and the beautiful beaches of Maré, New Caledonia. The newest ship in P&O's fleet, which débuts in June, promises waterslides, barefoot bowls and residential-elegant interiors.

CORAL SEA ESCAPE
French expedition line Ponant starts its Coral Sea voyage in Cairns then sails to Papua New Guinea, exploring World War II relics at Milne Bay, and the port town of Rabaul, surrounded by volcanoes. From here, the 132-cabin megayacht L'Austral weaves between the tranquil archipelagos of the Solomons and Vanuatu, stopping at some of the lesser-visited islands for exceptional snorkelling and the chance to glimpse the lives of communities along the way.

The 15-night "In the Heart of Oceania" on L'Austral departs Cairns on 8 December 2017. ponant.com

18 / 0

OPERA AT SEA
Spanish tenor José Carreras headlines a performing arts cruise as part of his 2017 farewell world tour - your chance to hear one of his last performances. A cast drawn from leading musical theatre, opera and classical music companies will gather for this South Pacific sailing from Sydney, with performances by maestro David Giménez (Carreras' nephew) and Australian opera stars Marina Prior and David Hobson. Between visits to Nouméa and the Isle of Pines, guests can look forward to theme nights hosted by Ray Martin, join a passenger choir led by conductor Jonathon Welch, and line up at autograph signings with the stars.

The seven-night "Bravo!" cruise on Radiance of the Seas departs Sydney on 31 October 2017. bravo2017.com

19 / 0

JUNGLE FEVER
Bookings have opened for the highly anticipated Scenic Eclipse, billed by Australian cruising pioneer Scenic as "the world's first discovery yacht". It's being built for adventure, with two submarines and two helicopters among other on-board toys, and this intriguing itinerary involves flying over Panamanian islands and jungle by helicopter and viewing the unique marine life of Ecuador's Isla de la Plata by submarine. The cruise begins in World Heritage-listed Cartagena, Colombia, before moving to the pristine San Blas Islands, the Darién Jungle and Utría National Park, and finishing in Guayaquil, Ecuador. There's also an opportunity to meet indigenous Embera and Kuna people in Panama.

WHISKY TRAIL
Round up seven friends to book out an eightpassenger hotel barge (with four crew and a chef) on the Caledonian Canal, linking Scotland's east and west coasts. Enjoy the Scottish spirit at three historic distilleries - Benromach, Glen Ord and Dalwhinnie Distillery in Cairngorms National Park - with private tastings and tours. Optional excursions take in Eilean Donan castle, the battlefield of Culloden Moor and the ruins of Urquhart Castle overlooking Loch Ness. On board, the menu is focused on regional seafood, game, cheeses and single malts. The barge operator, European Waterways, takes bookings for individual cabins on select dates but most weekly departures are by charter only.

ENCORE SEASON
The new Seabourn Encore will sail from Dubai to Qatar, Oman, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Indonesia, the Northern Territory and Queensland before conveniently concluding its "Seasons of the Southern Cross" voyage in Sydney later this year. Among the exotic ports of call are Muscat, Mumbai and Colombo. A highlight of this 600-passenger ship is The Grill, created in collaboration with celebrated chef Thomas Keller, of The French Laundry and Per Se.

The 40-night "Seasons of the Southern Cross" on Seabourn Encore departs Dubai on 25 October 2017. seabourn.com

Photo: Deborah Jones Studio

22 / 0

PRIVATE JET SAFARI
For a cool $141,000, join a cross-continental journey by air, land and sea. SeaDream Yacht Club has partnered with a private jet company for a Mediterranean cruise and an African safari. After sailing on the Seadream I megayacht from Spain to the south of France, Italy and Monaco, the small group is whisked away on a Boeing 757 to Botswana, Rwanda, South Africa and Morocco. Observe mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, witness the teeming wildlife of the Okavango Delta in Botswana, and in Morocco trek into the Atlas Mountains and enjoy a farewell dinner in Marrakech.

The 19-night "Sea Sky Safari" on Seadream I departs Barcelona on 5 May 2017. seadream.com

23 / 0

CARIBBEAN CLASS
Regent Seven Seas Cruises' high-luxe Seven Seas Explorer cruises the Caribbean this year, allowing travellers to explore the natural beauty of islands such as St Maarten, St Kitts and Dominica. See the clear waters of Bonaire, climb waterfalls at St George's, Grenada, and stroll along the colourful waterfront and floating market of Dutch-flavoured Willemstad, Curaçao. At St Lucia, join the ship's chef at the open-air Castries Market to shop for produce and then learn howto prepare traditional St Lucian dishes. Or try snuba (scuba diving crossed with snorkelling) off Pigeon Island.

TRANSATLANTIC TREAT
The breadth of destinations visited makes Silver Whisper's trans-Atlantic voyage a standout. Visiting 13 ports in 17 days, this cruise starts in England and takes in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Iceland, Greenland and Canada. Enjoy a round of golf in Cornwall, explore Dublin and Belfast, watch birds in Gaspe, take a photo tour in Narsarsuaq, stay overnight in Quebec City and dine well in Montréal. The sailing includes bonus food and wine activities, too.

EXCLUSIVE BURMA
In the style of the legendary colonial hotel of the same name, The Strand Cruise is a 28-cabin ship with access to private moorings close to landmarks along Myanmar's Irrawaddy River. An exclusive mooring overnight at Ava, for example, allows passengers to explore the temple of Maha Aungmye Bonzan after the crowds have departed. It's the only operator to offer visits to the landmark U-Bein bridge on both north- and south-bound itineraries. Travellers can top or tail their cruise at The Strand Hotel Yangon, which reopened in November after extensive refurbishment.

The four-night "Bagan to Mandalay" on The Strand Cruise has multiple departures from July to September 2017. thestrandcruise.com

26 / 0

FRANCE ENHANCED
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection has enhanced its Paris and Normandy cruises with trips to the gardens of Versailles, Étretat and Mont- Saint-Aignan golf courses, and La Couronne, the restaurant in which Julia Child had her first French meal. Cruise the Seine aboard the line's new ship, Joie de Vivre, to Richard the Lionheart's Château Gaillard, Monet's home in Giverny, the medieval capital of Rouen, and World War II landing beaches.

The seven-night "Paris & Normandy" on Joie de Vivre has multiple departures from April to November 2017. uniworld.com

27 / 0

NORWEGIAN FJORDS
Viking Ocean Cruises' elegant new ships are as lovely as their destinations, none more so than the northernmost reaches of Norway. After cruising its magnificent fjords, head to the remote Shetland and Orkney islands, then explore Edinburgh for a day. The cruise ends in Greenwich on the Thames. Be sure to try the ship's Nordic-style thermal suite and Mamsen's, a Norwegian deli serving dishes from the recipe book of the mother of Viking's president - expect beef tartare, split pea soup, and waffles topped with local cheeses.

The 14-night "Into the Midnight Sun" on Viking Star departs Bergen, Norway, on 3 and 25 June 2017. vikingcruises.com.au

28 / 0

AUSTRALIA TO THE WORLD
The first world cruise from Australia to include the Arctic Circle, Sea Princess's round-trip voyage from Sydney in May spends 104 days calling at 37 ports in the South Pacific, the Americas, the Mediterranean and northern Europe, with overnight stays in Venice, New York and Lima. Sail through the Suez and Panama canals and enjoy the nightlife before late-evening departures in such hotspots as Barcelona, Reykjavik, Lisbon and Dubai. Passengers can embark in Sydney, Melbourne, or Fremantle and disembark in Sydney or Brisbane.

INDONESIA BY TALL SHIP
A tall ship with its white sails billowing in the breeze evokes the romance of the seas, and it's exciting to see a fine example, the four-masted Star Clipper, heading to Indonesia. The 170-passenger ship can squeeze into rarely visited places such as Pulau Satonda, a volcanic island surrounded by coral reefs with a lake in its crater. Other ports of call include Pink Beach on Komodo Island, Senggigi Beach on Lombok, and the Gili islands: Gili Nanggu, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan. Passengers can visit the World Heritage-listed 9th-century temple of Borobudur in central Java and the active volcano Mount Bromo, as well as snorkelling, kayaking and canoeing.

Seven-, 10- and 11-night Indonesia cruises on Star Clipper depart Bali from May to October 2017. starclippers.com